Saturday, September 29, 2012

Perhaps, I would venture to guess, a very important tip as we are in our final weekend before – remember this on October 17 or October 24 or even October 4!

Tip #23 – Whatever poetry you write this month: first drafts, snippets of words, ideas, haiku, pantoum, sonnets, free verse only,prose poetry…. Nothing you write during OctPoWriMo is “wrong writing.” Everything written here is grand – a model of tenacity, hope and promise – just like you are as well. Each time you move your pencil (put your fingers to the keyboard, however you choose to do it) is adding to the increase for all of us.

Over and over I have found I inspire people with my writing at times when I have absolutely no idea they are even READING me. You cannot fathom who might be ready to read exactly the message your words may express.

Honor your creative impulse to write 31 poems in 31 days.

We believe in you.

Someone special is out there, waiting to read your words. You bless your readers when you put your thoughts into words and hit “Publish”.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Connecting with Divine inspiration to write poetry doesn't have to be hard. Many of the tips so far can help you connect in. It is about allowing the ego to step aside, feeling the love of the source of all creation (whatever you may call it/Him/Her/They), and staying in the present moment to be able to allow the words to flow onto the page.

Gratitude is something that I think helps me stay connected. When I feel grateful I can't help but smile and then loving feelings spread outward from my heart. Ah the words flow in that moment.

Tip 22: Make a list of all the things you are grateful for and staple it to the inside of the front of your notebook or post above your writing station. Read it every day before beginning, see if there is anything you want to add to the list, and smile.

There is much that I am grateful for and being a part of this poetry journey with you is high up on my list. We only have two days left until we begin OctPoWriMo. If you are planning on joining us but haven't added your link to the Link Up yet I hope you will do that soon.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

"The ideas that have lighted my way and, timeafter time, have given me new courage to facelife cheerfully have been Kindness,Beauty, and Truth."Albert Einstein

Today's tip focuses on writing poetry filled with love, peace and the light which comes as a result of loving peace. Einstein also said, "Creating a new theory is not like destroying an old barn and erecting a skyscraper in its place. It is rather like climbing a mountain, gaining new and wider views, discovering unexpected connections between our starting points and its rich environment. But the point from which we started out still exists and can be seen, although it appears smaller and forms a tiny part of our broad view gained by the mastery of the obstacles on our adventurous way up."

Now, replace the word THEORY with POEM.

This sounds like what happens when we create new poems, today we will think of poetry as word art, when we craft a new poetry collection or body of poetic work or simply write a poem becausewe want to awaken something within you. Sometimes awakening comes via synchronicity.I remember one specific, surprise awakeningwhen strolling through Barnes and Noble one Saturday morning. My eyes scanned the stacksas I moved from one section to another when I caught the title of a book: Poetry..... by Michelangelo?

Poetry Writing Tip #21 When we use free flow writing with our poetry, an increased awareness is born. It is part of poetry writing that comes straight from our heart through our pencil and onto the page in the most surprising ways. It doesn't necessarily happen when we sit down and declare we are going to write a "brilliant poem!" today. When we are not intending anything to happen beyond loving the moment and permitting peace to move through us and onto the page: this is where awakening (and truthful poetry) begins. When we choose to sit in a space of joy and peace we allow ourselves to circle freely. We are able to get from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego and simply learn along the way. We pick ourselves up when we falter.

Instead of looking at what is wrong with the words that show up along the way, we laugh and keep going. Our writing flows because we are inviting love, peace... beauty, truth.

When we shift our perspective and aim toward possible passion to vibrant passion we will be able tosee all the world is offering to us and all that we write via our poetry.We can see – and write - the skyscraper (or museum, cathedral, home or bridge or dumpster or rest stop bathroom).

We can see – and write - not only the roads crisscrossing our home town, we can see Alaska, North America, Central America, and South America and Tierra del Fuego.

At the heart of the experience is your soul filled poetry, heartfully expressed.

Do you feel like writing poetry based on our friends Albert and Michelangelo? Our quote of the day today is incredibly rich with potent writing seedlings. Let's take his words and mix in our light and see what happens as a result.

Again, Albert Einstein said: "The ideas that have lighted my way and, time after time, have given me new courage to face life cheerfully have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth"Pluck any of the categories: Courage, Kindness, Beauty, Truth and inject your light, your peace, your living in this exact moment and add "I want to shine my life on...." Perhaps take a few moments in silence before you begin, thinking upon the one word, toning the one word, singing the one word, breathing in and out the one word.Then write, freely, without intention for quality or deep or anything. Just let the words flow and hold them on a soft blanket of poetry.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

My biggest enemy – well, I don’t exactly like to think of her like that… perhaps frenemy is better – to my creative process is Time. I never seem to have enough of her unless I am very, very conscious with her. It seems on the busiest of days, the most enjoyable moments get swallowed before they begin: poetry, it seems, is one of the first to somersault from my consciousness.

In October, we are committing to 31 Poems in 31 Days.Perhaps by day 4 or 5 your intention to write will have not only somersaulted away from you, it has cart wheeled and done sprawling leaps so quickly and so far away you can’t even see your path of words anymore. You may think OctPoWrimo is such a ginormous commitment. Instead, try on “OctPoWriMo is not only fun, it is absolutely do-able.”

Please, please take note of today’s tip if you are at all like me and frequently “lose Time.”

Tip #20: Learn to squeeze poetry writing in between the cracks of appointments, meetings, lengthy gotta-do lists and other people’s requests. How? Write poetry into your cell phone as you wait in lines. Tweet micropoems (think object poems) in 140 characters – or less. Start practicing haiku using my “count and write on my fingers” approach. Write snippets of what you see as you wait for the umpteenth meeting to begin. You will be shocked and delighted by ways you can squeak more poetry writing – and pleasure – into your hectic schedule.

You have four days to begin practicing these techniques. Scoop up one a day and play with the technique. I promise you will be so happy you did!

If you have yet to sign up for the OctPoWriMo Linky, pleasedo so now by clicking here. We will be so happy to include you in our blog hopping adventures. Writing in community is especially helpful for busy people. Like Julia Cameron wrote, “One simple, well-timed compliment, like one rainfall, guarantees our continued growth.” Our blogging and commenting during OctPoWriMo will do exactly that for each and all who participate.

Now, get out there and practice making a deep and respectful and FUN relationship with Time. You can do this!